School board at-large essays

October 28, 2008

By KIM BARNBROOK The successful future of all our students is our future as a community and my main priority. Our education delivery and outcome is an intricate part of how we will attract families to attend our schools, quality professionals to work for us and our community to support our efforts and decisions. As a public school corporation, we also have the responsibility to provide the business community with a productive and stable work force in order for our community to grow. I am honored to serve as an at-large representative on the Board of School Trustees. My experience has affirmed my belief that despite the many challenges we face as an urban corporation, we have the most committed and talented employees and community to overcome many of these challenges. We have had situations that have caused at times, extreme concern for this community. I have made very sensitive, uncomfortable and seemingly unpopular, but necessary decisions. Please know that I have made them carefully and in the best interest of the community as a whole. I have the objectivity, commitment and courage to continue to make difficult decisions. My term's focus has been on educational, policy, financial, legal and public perception areas of my board responsibilities, with support and involvement in areas to make more educational opportunities for children. I presently serve on the committee to investigate the benefits of a new tech high school. I have supported many initiatives for intervention, grants, training, and professional growth for our teachers and staff. I will strive to protect the financial solvency and professional dignity of the corporation and the teaching profession. I have always supported the corporation and have actively participated for over 15 years to make positive changes in order for our schools to provide the best education, most opportunity and the safest environment possible for all students. As a corporation, a major employer and as a board, we must strive to redirect the negative factions that would otherwise like to exploit our struggles. By working as a community and supporting public education, we can overcome the negatives and secure our children's future. Kim Barnbrook is seeking re-election to an at-large seat on the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees.By ROBERT C. BATTANI The utmost reason for running for the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees is the alarming rate of drop-outs within our community. As a school board member, I feel it is our responsibility to be a driving force towards understanding what can and should be done about this problem. Education is merely the teaching and learning of knowledge, proper conduct and moral competency. Therefore, we should focus on the areas needed to improve our children's skills as well as mental, moral and aesthetic developments. School board members, like any other managing board, have a duty to carry out the express terms of a contract. The main contract for this board is to educate our children in the best way possible. Some ways to do this are a better communication between our teachers and their administration. By listening to what both have to say, the school board can recommend future action that should be taken by the superintendent of schools. We should also look into a more equally balanced disbursement of funds for all students whether it be in the educational or support structure. We should also work on getting more involvement from parents as well as teachers in decisions concerning the education of our children. I have lived in the South Bend area for over 30 years and my three children have attended the South Bend Community Schools. I am happy to say that they have also progressed on to college careers and are successful members of our community. I am proud of the education they received from our school corporation but find that there still is room for improvement. If I can make a change for the better by becoming a school board member then so be it! Robert C. Battani is a candidate for an at-large seat on the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees.By KYLE CHAMBERLIN "Why did you decide to run for the school board?" is a question that has surfaced time and again while listening to area residents share their concerns regarding the South Bend Community School Corp. On the surface, my answer is simple: I was taught from an early age the value of serving one's community. But as I reflect more deeply on what inspired me to pursue this office, I find the reasons are many. Calls to serve are often inspired by personal circumstances. Though I do not yet have children of my own, I do intend to raise a family here in South Bend. When my children reach school age, I want to feel confident that they will receive the best education possible from our public schools. Growing up here in St. Joseph County, I always admired the work my parents performed as public schoolteachers. Their tireless dedication to the betterment of students of all abilities was an inspiration as I pursued my own studies. Though I eventually chose a career as an attorney, I still feel a strong connection to the world of education. Any action I can take to support today's students, as well as underappreciated public servants like my parents, is a worthy one. Finally, I thrive upon challenges. While ignoring the struggles our schools face would be the easy choice since I do not have children of my own, doing so would be neither wise nor responsible on my behalf. The success of a community is directly correlated with the health of its public school system; the most effective way to improve South Bend is from the foundation -- its classrooms. I invite you to visit my Web site at www.kylechamberlin.com to learn more about my plan to bring professionalism and common-sense decision-making to the school board. With your vote on Nov. 4, we can turn the page to a new chapter for the South Bend Community Schools. Kyle Chamberlin is an at-large candidate for the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of School Trustees.By KAREN BRANDY-COMER I am a graduate of the former LaSalle High School class of 1975. I received a bachelor of science in music and a bachelor of science in English from Indiana University South Bend in 1997. In 1997, I was the director of music at WEB Dubois and in 1998 I began teaching at Dickinson Intermediate Center, where I taught choir (for one year) and was a permanent substitute from 1998-2006. My vision for the South Bend Community School Corp. is first to elect a superintendent that will have our students' and teachers' issues first. Making sure that before the superintendent is chosen that he or she is the best qualified person for our corporation and our community. One hundred percent graduation is a must. There has to be a reason why, in the school year 2005-2006, only 69.3 percent of our students graduated from high school. The dropout rate has to stop rising, by providing help for struggling students. Reduction in class size and the hiring of more qualified aides can be the first step in lowering the dropout rate. This will not only help students who are struggling, but keep the students who are not from being bored, giving our classrooms a more productive environment. The nutrition of our school lunches needs to be improved. At a time when our children are suffering from adult diseases, like obesity, type II diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, the SBCSC needs to re-evaluate what our children are eating. Instead of processed, heated food, the corporation needs to go back to using the schools that have kitchens. By going back to the satellite schools cooking for the schools that have no kitchen, we can serve our students nutritious lunches -- lunches that cannot only fortify their bodies, but their minds as well. A healthy student is a productive student. My slogan for this campaign is: "One hundred percent health and education for 100 percent graduation. Will settle for nothing less." I want this to be the corporation's slogan as well. Karen Brandy-Comer is seeking an at-large seat on the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees.By ANN ROSEN The South Bend Community School Corp. is at a critical juncture. We, like many urban school districts, face the challenge of ensuring that all our students graduate high school with the education necessary for successful and fulfilling lives. For many of our students, the experience they have in our schools may mean the difference between poverty and plenty, prison and freedom, and even life and death. This is an awesome responsibility for those of us involved in education. Students need extremely knowledgeable, dedicated and inspired teachers, who are led by excellent principals and supported by a superior central administrative staff. Our children need the love and support of their families. They need the active involvement of the entire community. The probability that all these pieces will be in place and pulling together rests on the quality of the superintendent's leadership. Under the interim leadership of acting Superintendent James Kapsa, I have witnessed the optimism and forward movement that can be generated by a skilled leader. It has reaffirmed my strong belief that we need a superintendent who has the respect of teachers, administrators, board members, parents and community; strong administrative and leadership skills; and the educational competency that will enable us to meet our challenges. Based on my extensive networks with diverse community groups and on my understanding of education issues and the intricacies of a superintendent search, I believe that I will be a constructive force on the board during this process. Also, after serving four years on the board, I understand the dynamics of SBCSC board member interactions, which will affect how the process proceeds. Thus, I am running for re-election because I believe that my concern for children, education and the community, as well as my background, experience and insight will enable me to contribute positively to the choice of the next superintendent -- and to work constructively with that superintendent and the board to help guide the future of the South Bend schools, and ensure the future of our children. Ann Rosen is seeking a second term as an at-large member of the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees.By ROGER PARENT Someone said of my decision to run for the South Bend school board, "Isn't that a step down for you," referring to my service as mayor of South Bend. "Of course not," I replied, "the education of our children -- the passing on of our skills, knowledge, and culture to our children -- is the most important function of our community." The question signifies an attitude that school trustees, and our schools, are not very important. This may be one reason why school trustees don't get much attention, unless their performance and decisions gain widespread notoriety. By then it's usually too late for effective community engagement in their schools, and leaders start calling for a different kind of school board. In the long run it doesn't seem to make much difference in the quality of schools whether school boards are elected or appointed. The ultimate determinant of high performing schools is an informed and engaged community with a serious interest in its schools. Our community should work hand-in-hand with its board and superintendent to develop and accept clear comprehensive goals for our schools and students, and hold them accountable for reaching those goals. In 2005, I approached James Kapsa, principal of Jefferson Intermediate Center, about starting projects at Jefferson, as a volunteer. He readily agreed, and during the past two years of my involvement with students and teachers, I learned firsthand about the challenges faced by our schools and students. This experience led me to consider, and then decide to seek an at-large post on the South Bend school board. Our goal as a community should be to work for world-class schools. This is a large goal which we will attain when our community becomes engaged in a serious and continuing way in its schools, and only when our community acts to have world-class schools. That's my goal. You can contact me by e-mail at rogerschoolmail@gmail.com, or at World Dignity Inc., 814 Marietta St., South Bend, IN 46601. Roger Parent is a candidate at-large for the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees.By DUSTIN SAUNDERS I want to be a school board member because I want to make a difference in our children's lives. As a father of seven, I want them to have a better life and better opportunities than I had. I also want that for all the children of our community. They are the future. If we do not change the path, our corporation and community will have a very dim future. There are many issues in this campaign. The big question is the superintendent. We do not need a search. I believe that we are wasting the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County's money. It is not their responsibility to fix an ego-driven decision. We need three qualities in a superintendent: 1. Cares about the students, teachers and families. 2. Understands our community. 3. Is willing to do what it takes to make our corporation succeed. I think interim Superintendent. James Kapsa has these qualities and, along with 30 years in our schools, is ready to lead us to success. The next issue is high school scheduling. If we are going to have focuses in our schools we need to have schedules that fit those schools. So, for example, if A B block would work for Adams High School, focus on what we need to do to help those kids' succeed. We do not need the same schedule type in every school. I would also like to touch on transportation. Buying new buses is a huge mistake. We need to request to transfer that $2.5 million to off-set our $1.5 million deficit for 2009. We must cut transportation drastically and make sure if you have an 80-passenger bus it has 80 kids on it, not 20. Finally, is Plan Z. What has it done for our schools? It has created more busing and did not improve test scores, drop-out rates or graduation rates. I think we need to go back to the drawing board to improve the quality of our schools. We as a community need to stand up and vote Nov. 4 so that we may begin to "take back our schools." Dustin Saunders is an at-large candidate for the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees.By DON WHEELER I'm a small business owner, and moved here around 18 years ago. Over time, I've become involved in a lot of social action groups and activities, and what's extremely clear from talking with people is that many have little confidence in the conduct and decisions of the current South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees. Deserved or not, that sentiment can't be ignored. Let's start by welcoming community members and groups with energy and ideas to tackle the many thorny issues we face and make at least half the board meetings in schools -- and at 7:30 p.m. -- as we used to. People who work hard can get cleaned up, grab a bite and come see what's happening. Establishing a sense of community, of common purpose, is critical to improving graduation rates. But it's my view that transformational change can only occur by creating equal opportunity for our youngest students. We seem to do pretty well with our children from advantaged backgrounds and home lives. We don't seem to do that well with our other children. Mandatory full-day kindergarten, concentrating on teaching learning skills, would be a start. When our daughter starts first grade next summer (after two years of preschool -- plus kindergarten), she may well be seated next to a 7-year-old who is in school for the first time ever. Her teacher, with that kind of disparity, has a tough row to hoe. The studies I've looked at make clear the best outcomes are achieved by the students earliest into the system. The later the entry -- the lower the likelihood of graduation. And how can we ever truly judge the effectiveness of intermediate and high school programs unless we are confident our children leave primary centers ready for the next step? I hope you'll drop by my Web site http://wheeler4rkids.org" to get a more complete idea of what I propose. Our daughter literally charges up the steps of the school bus every morning -- she's so happy to be going to school. I want as many of our children as possible to have the opportunities she has in front of her. Don Wheeler is an at-large candidate for the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees.